Bengaluru might soon implement a total smoking ban in pubs, bars and hotels

Total smoking ban in Bangalore restaurants might soon be a reality

Smoking a cigarette when you’re chilling at a pub in Bengaluru might be a thing of the past. According to a report by the Times of India, if the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has its way, smoking will be completely banned in Bangalore’s restaurants, bars, and even cafes. There’s also a possibility of a new notification where smoking may be allowed in a restricted designated area once the bar obtains a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the BBMP Tobacco Control Cell. BBMP issued a circular on Tuesday notifying that all public places, including hotels and pubs, should be declared as smoke-free zones.

This circular is in response to the proposal submitted by the Tobacco Control Committee in July. The move is aimed at protecting the rights of non-smokers and curbing the effects of passive smoking as per the Karnataka Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Health of Non-Smokers Act and the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA). The one available way out is to obtain an NOC for hotels and cafés that house more than 30 guests.

BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad pointed out to TOI that most of these self-designated smoking areas are in complete violation of the existing laws and that the owners of these eateries in Bangalore should remove such illegal smoking zones. On the other hand, oncologists like Dr. US Vishal Rao, who spearheaded this initiative, are welcoming the move, calling it a significant step to protect passive smokers.

But hoteliers in Bengaluru aren’t happy. They feel that a sudden ban like this will be difficult to implement and may lead to issues with the authorities. Honnagiri Gowda, president of Karnataka Wine Merchants’ Association told the daily that the government should show the same willingness to stop the manufacturing and sale of tobacco products since they are injurious to health.

Even K Shyamaraju, treasurer of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India, and President of South India Hotels and Restaurants told TOI that the implementation of such a move can be very difficult as it is impossible to monitor if a person starts smoking inside a rented room, and that fitting smoke detectors is not a feasible option for small business establishments.